Ahead Of The Champions Trophy, Virat Kohli's 'Rift' With Anil Kumble Is The Last Thing India Needs

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had shocked the home fans after inviting new applications for the post of national team's head coach ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy. While current Team India coach Anil Kumble was handed a direct entry in the list of applicants for the top job, it sparked intense speculations over the surprising move.

Kumble, who was appointed as India's head coach in June 2016, has witnessed the Virat Kohli brigade winning a dozen out of 17 Tests alongside four draws and just one loss that came against Steve Smith's men earlier this year. And, more importantly, India also retained their World No. 1 ranking in the longest version of the game.

For a man who has surely made a mark in his one-year stint as coach, you'd ideally expect an automatic contract extension for him. But, surprisingly, not for Kumble.

While many believed that a lack of performance clause (which could have extended his stint) in his contract left the BCCI no choice but to invite fresh applications, others clearly felt something more intense was probably brewing in the Indian team.

And, the recent media reports claiming an alleged rift between Kohli and Kumble seems to be the reason behind BCCI's surprising move to hunt for a new coach.

According to a TOI report, Kohli had a word with Sourav Ganguly - who is part of the three-member advisory panel entrusted with the job of appointing India's new coach - after the practice game against New Zealand on Sunday and may have discussed the issue at length.

Meanwhile an India Today report also claimed that the Indian players have also complained against Kumble to the Indian cricket board's Committee of Administrators (COA). "Team India cricketers are apparently not very happy with Anil Kumble and they have complained to the Committee of Administrators (CoA) about the coach's overbearing attitude," the report said.

The Indian captain, head coach and the cricket board are yet to clarify the media reports but it was enough for the Twitter users to give their opinions on the matter at hand.